One piece partition

ABSTRACT

A one piece partition foldable from a blank die cut from paperboard or like material which features a center section having an upright rib panel and multiples of lateral panels hinged to the sides thereof which are foldable downwardly and then up into slots formed in the rib panels in a single or double thickness orientation.

[ 11 3,921,891 [451 Nov. 25, 1975 United States Patent 91 Gorham 229/l5 Nederveld.............,.............v 229/15 Kuchembecker....................

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Paul, Minn.

Primary Exuminer-Davis T. Moorehead Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jerry F. Best [22] Filed: Feb. 24, 1975 [21] Appl. No.: 552,415

] ABSTRACT A one piece partition foldable from a blank die cut from paperboard or like material which features a center section having an upright rib panel and multiples of lateral panels hinged to the sides thereof which References Cited are foldable downwardly and then up into slots formed UNITED STATES PATENTS in the rib panels in a single or double thickness orientation.

Buttery 229/28 R Schilling et a1. 229/15 5 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet10f5 3,921,891

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ONE PIECE PARTITION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to partitions for containers and more particularly to those partitions which are foldable from a single sheet of foldable material and are of the multiple cell type.

2. Description of the Prior Art In corrugated shipping containers which are used to hold items that must be kept separate from one another, it is commonplace to use partitions or dividers which create cells or sections which keep the articles or groups of articles to be contained therein from touch-' ing one another. The traditional manufacture of these partitions involve the use of multiple ribs with matching slots which are formed in the ribs and allow them to be pushed together at 90 angles thereby creating a web of crossing members. This style does not lend itself to double wall protection nor is there any additional protection on the bottom of the cells for the articles to be contained therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION the ribs to provide additional protection to the articles to be separated by the partition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a four cell partition embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the partition shown in FIG. 1 shown from the rear of the view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a blank adapted to be folded into a partition similar to that shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a partition featuring an alternative embodiment of the present invention having twelve cells, with single thickness transverse ribs;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a blank adapted to be folded into the partition shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the blank shown in FIG. 5 partially erected into the partition of FIG. 4, il-

lustrating the relationship of the upstanding transverse ribs and the downwardly folded lateral panels which are insertable into the slots in the transverse ribs;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational section view taken along the section line 7-7 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational section view taken along section lines 88 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a partition embodying the present invention which has nine cells, and double thickness in both the transverse ribs and lateral panel members;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a blank adapted to be folded into the partition shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational section view of a portion of the partition shown in FIG. 9, taken along section lines ll11 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational section view of a portion of the partition shown in FIG. 9 taken along section line 12l2 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view embodying the present invention having six sections, with double thickness transverse ribs and lateral panels, illustrating how the dimensions of the cells may be varied;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the blank adapted to be folded into a partition such as that shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a side elevational section view of the partition shown in FIG. 13 taken along section line 15l5 in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a side elevation section view of the partition shown in FIG. 13 taken along section line l6--l6 in FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is a side elevation section view of the partition shown in FIG. 13 taken along section line l7-17 in FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The concepts disclosed in this invention may be employed in basic form, and for purposes of this disclosure additional modifications and embodiments have been included to illustrate how many variations of this partition design may be achieved within the scope of-the invention. In FIG. 1 the basic structure is disclosed which is for a partition 10 which is in the fourcell configuration. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the partition blank is made up of a substantially rectangular sheet of foldable paperboard or similar sheet-like material, and has a top edge I], a bottom edge 12 and opposed perpendicular lateral edges 13 and 14.

In the center of the blank is a center section which is adapted to be folded to form the base of the partition and which includes two center section support panels 15 and 16. These two center section support panels 15 and 16 are separated by a slot 17 which extends perpendicular to the top edge 11. The edges of the support panels 15 and 16 which extend along the longitudinal center line are defined by a fold line 18 along which is connected a center rib panel 19 which as can be seen in FIG. 1, is foldable into a vertically oriented center rib panel which has a slot 17A formed partially therethrough opening on to the bottom edge 18 of the center rib panel 19 which is an extension of the slot 17 separating the two center support panels 15 and 16. The exact dimension of this slot 17 is dictated by the thicknesses of the panels which are inserted into the slot and normally would extend into the center rib panel 19 approximately on half of its width. The center rib panel 19 extends transversely across the width of the center section of the blank and is attached only .to the center section support panels 15 and 16. The rib panel 19 is not connected to the lateral panels to be described later.

Along each of the lateral sides of the center section are attached lateral panels. These lateral panels are designated as 20 and 21 and are attached to the center section support panel 15 along a fold line 22 and to center support section 16 along the fold line 23. These fold lines 22 and 23 are perpendicular to the top edge 11 of the blank and these lateral panels are separated from the center rib panel 19 by line out extensions of the hinge lines which are shown as 22A and 23A respectively.

These lateral panels 20 and 21 can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 to fold downwardly and lie in flush relationship with the bottom of the center support panels 15 and 16 to form a double thickness at those locations, and also provide for a base structure in the two cells which in FIG. 1 appear at the back ofthe drawing. There are additional lateral panels located at the outer lateral sides of the blank and are shown as 24 attached to lateral panel along hinge line and lateral panel 26 attached to lateral panel 21 along hinge line 27. These third and fourth lateral panels have slots formed approximately halfway therethrough which open to the outside edges 13 and 14 of the blank. These slots are shown as 28 and 29 and they are oriented on a line aligned with the fold line 18 which connects the center rib panel 19 to the center support sections 15 and 16. The reason for this orientation is so that the slots 28 and 29 will align and fit into the extension of the slot 17A which is formed in the center rib panel 19 thereby creating a double thickness cell divider wall which extends in a direction perpendicular to the transversely oriented center rib panel 19. That portion of the slot 17 which divides the center support panels 15 and 16 is required so that the outer lateral panels 24 and 26 may be folded together and upwardly into the position shown in FIG. 1. The width of the slot 17 should be approximately twice the thickness of the board used for the blank and the thickness of the slots 28 and 29 need only be approximately the same thickness so that center rib panel 19 may be accomodated therein.

The basic four cell structure which just has been described and is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 forms the basis for the other embodiments which are illustrated. For example, the twelve cell structure which is illustrated in FIGS. 4 through 8 is made from a blank which is shown in FIG. 5. This blank has a center section which is similar to that shown in FIG. 3 but which has been expanded to include a larger number of cells, in this case four instead of two. There are center support sections 30, 31, 32 and 33 which are separated by slots 34, 35 and 36. The top edge of these center support sections is defined by a fold line 37 which is parallel to the top edge 38 of the blank and along this fold line 37 is attached a first rib panel 39 which is oriented much like the rib panel 19 in FIG. 3, only is formed with a greater length in the transverse direction. The slots 34, 35 and 36 extend into the rib panel 39 in a manner similar to the slot 17 extending into the rib panel 19 in FIG. 3. In order to form a cell partition which is three cells in depth, a second rib panel 40 is added along a bottom fold line and is connected along a bottom fold line 41 which is parallel to the fold line 37' and to the bottom edge of the blank 42 and which is formed in a mirror image of the other rib panel 39. As can be seen in FIG. 6 these two rib panels fold upwardly into vertical position along what can best be described as the top and bottom edges of the various center support panels along the hinge lines 37 and 41, and extend the transverse length of this center area.

In the four cell embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 there were only two lateral panels on each side of the center section which folded together to form a single center partition. In order to form'a four cell lengthwie division, it is necessary to use five lateral panels on each side of the center section and as can be seen in FIG. 5 these include on the right hand side a first lateral panel 43 attached only to the center support section 33 along a fold line 44, a pair of lateral panels 45 and 46 which are connected to panel 43 along fold line 47 and to each other by a common fold line 48. These two pannels 45 and 46 have a pair of transversely extending slots formed partway therethrough aligned with each of the fold lines 37 and 41 and as can be seen in FIG. 6

these two panels fold together into face contact and are insertable into the slot 36 to form the outside double thickness partition wall which is designated generally as 50 in FIGS. 4 and 8. The slots in the two lateral panels 45 and 46 are designated 51 and 52 respectively. Attached to the lateral panel 46 are a pair of panels 53 and 54 which are analagous structured to the outside panels 21 and 26 in FIG. 3 and which are connected to the panel 46 along fold line 55 as well as to each other along fold line 56. The outermost lateral panel 54 has two slots 57 and 58 formed therein which are in alignment with the two fold lines 37 and 41 and allow the outermost lateral panel 54 as shown in FIG. 6 to fold downwardly and then up into the slots 35 in the center of the two vertical rib panels 39 and 40.

The opposite lateral side of the blank shown in FIG. 5 has a similar lateral panel configuration including a first panel 59 connected along a hinge line 60 to the center support section 30, a second lateral panel 61 connected to the panel 59 by a hinge line 62, a third lateral panel 63 connected to the lateral panel 61 by a hinge line 64. The two adjacent lateral panels 61 and 63 have transverse slots 65 and 66 formed therein which, when the two lateral panels 61 and 63 are folded into flush relationship to form the outer partition divider panel shown as 67 in FIG. 4 the slots allow that wall to be inserted into the slot 34 separating the two center support panels 30 and 31 and extending into the two rib panels 39 and 40. A fourth lateral panel 68 is connected to the lateral panel 63 along the fold line 69, and a final outermost lateral panel 70 is hingedly attached thereto along a fold line 71 and is formed with transverse slots 72 and 73 which correspond to the transverse slots 57 and 58 at the opposite end of the blank.

As can be seen in FIG. 6 these first lateral panels at either side of the center section 43 and 59 fold downwardly to form part of the partition bottom. and provide a double thickness bottom underneath the center support sections 33 and 30 respectively. The next two sections in each of the groupings on either side of the center section, 45 and 46 and 61 and 63 respectively, are then folded together in back-to-back relationship and inserted into the slots 36 and 34 to form double thickness partition walls already designated as 50 and 67. The center partition is double thickness and is formed by folding the sections 53 and 68 into flush relationship beneath center support sections 32 and 31 respectively, and then inserting the outermost lateral panels 54 and 70 into the center slot 35 in side-by-side relationship to form the center double thickness panel, which is designated as 74.

It should be understood that this twelve cell partition has double thickness dividers in one direction formed by the double folding of the lateral panels positioned on either side of the center section. This twelve cell partition could be made into a nine cell by simply deleting, for example, the first three lateral panels on either side of the center section, such as 43, 45 and 46 and deleting also the first adjacent center support panel 33 and slot 36. This would result in the double thickness partition wall 50 being deleted so that there would only be a three by three cell arrangement. Likewise a longer partition with more cells could be produced by simply adding additional center support sections and additional slots with corresponding multiples of three lateral panels on that end to which the center support section was to be added. It can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8 that the row of center support sections through 33 have a double thickness bottom in the final folded arrangement and the remainder ofthe partition bottom is made up of single thicknesses of the-upper and lowermost portions of the lateral panels which also make up the bottom of the partition.

As previously mentioned, and as illustrated by the four cell partition of FIG. 1 and the twelve cell partition of FIG. 4, a single thickness center rib design may be expanded in the transverse direction by any number of cell additions, and a second single thickness rib panel may be added as in FIG. 4 so that the partition is three cells in depth and again may be varied in the number of cells in the transverse direction. For those applications where additional strength or cushioning is desired in the cell walls between the articles a double thickness design may be used 'for all of the partition panels and is described in the FIGS. 9 through 17. The partition shown in FIG. 9 is a nine cell style, and the one shown in FIG. 13 is a six cell style. The difference is that the partition in FIG. 9 has a double rib design whereas the partition in FIG. 13 has a single rib design.

The nine cell partition is formed from the blank shown in FIG. 10 and as can be seen this partition blank incorporates a center section similar to those previously described having a series of three center support panels 75, 76 and 77, and which is variable to give the desired multiple of cells. These three center support panels have a first edge defined by fold line 78 which is parallel to the top edge of the blank and a second defined by fold line 79 similarly parallel. The three center support sections are spaced and separated by a pair of slots 80 and 81 which extend therethrough and into the adjacent rib panels which are hinged to the first and second edges of the center support sections. These rib panels are numbered 82 and 83, respectively, and have attached along a fold line to the outer edges thereof rib stiffener panels 84 and 85 which are formed in size equal to the rib panels 82 and 83 and are connected thereto along hinge lines 86 and 87. The slots 80 and 81 extend into these rib panels 82 and'83 and a corresponding slot is formed in the outermost portion of the :rib stiffener panels 84 and 85, these slots shown as 88 and 89 in the rib stiffener panel 84 and a slots 90 and 91 in the stiffener panel 85. These pairs of rib panels and rib stiffener panels are folded together to form the double thickness transverse ribs which in FIG. 9 are shown as 92 and 93 respectively.

What is produced in effect and is a center section similar to that in the twelve cell partition of FIG. 4 but with three cells in length and an additional panel which folds up into flush relationship with the rib panels to give a double thickness and extra cushioning partition. The lateral panels which fold to double thickness are in a similar configuration to those previously described .and in this case illustrate how a three wide partition may be formed which results in an uneven number of lateral panels on each ide of this center section.

On the right hand side in FIG. 10 can be seen a first lateral panel 94 connected to the center support section' 77 by a fold line 95 which is perpendicular to the top and bottom edges of the center support sections, and connected to that lateral panel 94 is an outer most lateral panel 96 by avfold line 97. This outermost panel has slots formed transversely partly therethrough and and 99.; On the opposite side is a series of lateral panels similarto those shown on each side of the blank of FIG. 5 and include a first lateral panel 100 connected to the center support panel by a hinge line 101. Further there is a pair of lateral panels 102 and 103 which are connected to each other by a fold line 104 and which are attached along the first lateral panel by a hinge line 105 and have two slots formed therein similarly aligned with the top and bottom hinge lines 78 and 79 and designated 106 and 107. The outermost two lateral panels are shown as 108 and 109 and are connected to the lateral panel 103 by a hinge line 110 and to each other by a hinge line 1.11. The outermost panel 109 is foldable into the slot 81 and into flush relationship with the outermost opposite lateral panel 96 to form the double thickness partition wall 112 shown in FIG. 9. The two slots formed in the outermost lateral panel 109 are labeled 113 and 114 and as previously mentioned align with the slot 81 and the matching slots 89 and 91 in the outermost rib stiffening panels 84 and 85. The two panels on the left 102 and 103 fold together to form the double thickness lateral rib 115.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13 is analogous to that of FIG. 9 except that only a single double thickness rib section is employed and also the relative proportions of the cell dimensions have been changed to illustrate how that may be accomplished. In the blank shown in FIG. 14 the center section is changed somewhat and includes only two center support panels 116 and 117 which are defined along the longitudinal center line of the blank by a fold line 118 which is parallel to the top and bottom edges of the blank. There is room for a third center support section, but it has been omitted to illustrate how this may be accomplished. Along the fold line 118 is attached the primary rib panel 119 which has in turn attached to its top edge along the fold line 120 the rib stiffener panel 121. Since the middle of the three potential center support sections has been omitted, the slots 122 and 123 do not extend the full breadth of the support sections 116 and 117, but it should be understood that if that third support section were present, the slots would still extend to the bottom edge of the blank. Corresponding slots 124 and 125 are formed in the rib stiffener panel 121 so that when the two rib panels 119 and 121 are folded into vertical position to form a double thickness center rib, which is shown in FIG. 13 as 126, the slots are in registry and extend to the center line of the cell structure along the fold line 118.

The lateral panels on the left side of the center section in FIG. 14 are similar to those on the left side of the blank of FIG. 3 and include a first lateral panel 127 which is connected along a fold line 128 to the center support section 116, and attached thereto is an outer lateral panel 129 whichis connected to the first lateral panel 127 along a hinge line 130. A single slot is formed in the outer lateral panel 129 and is shown as 131 and which extends along the longitudinal center line of the blank. The slotted panel 129 is insertable into the combined slots 122 and 124 in the manner previously described. The lateral panel 127 forms a double thickness bottom with the center support section 1 16 on one half of the partition. The opposite lateral panels are five in number to allow a double thickness partition and create the three cell length for the total of six cells in this particular embodiment. The first lateral panel is designated as 132 and is connected to panel 117 along a hinge line 133. The next lateral panel is shown as 134 and is connected along a hinge line 135 as well as an adjoining panel 136 which is connected to 134 by a fold line 137. These two adjacent panels 134 and 136 have formed therein a slot 138 which is alinged with the fold line 118 and when these two panels are doubled together they are insertable into the slots 125 and 123 in the double thickness rib 126 to form the lateral double thickness rib 139. The two outermost lateral panels are similar to the two panels on the opposite side of the center section and are numbered 140 and 141 which are connected to the transverse panel 136 by a hinge line 142 and to each other by a fold line 143. An outside opening slot 144 is formed alinged with the slots 131 and 138 running in the transverse direction and when the folding is completed the panel 141 rests in flush relation with the opposed lateral panel 129 and the two slots 131 and 144 are inserted into the slots 122 and 124 to form the other double thickness lateral partition wall shown in FIG. 13 as 145. As can be seen in FIG. the center area between the double thickness partitions 145 and 139 has only a single thickness bottom which is formed by the panel 140 and is the result of the result of omitting the third center section support panel from the blank. The number of partitions may be expanded in the lateral direction as previously described.

In accordance with Patent Statutes, l have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in ONE PIECE PARTITION; and while 1 have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

1 claim:

1. A blank made from foldable paperboard or similar sheet-like material and adapted to be erected into a one-piece multi-cell container partition, said blank comprising:

a substantially rectangular sheet of said material;

said sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposed lateral sides;

a center section adapted to be folded to form the base of said partition in final erected form;

at least two center section support panels, said center section support panels separated by a first slot extending perpendicular to said top edge;

a first center rib panel hingedly connected along a fold line to the top edge of said center support panels and foldable normally to said center support panels into position to become the first center rib of said partition said first rib panel having formed therein a slot partially therethrough coaxial with and extending from said first slot separating said center support panels;

a first lateral panel located at the side of a first of said center section support panels opposite said first slot and hingedly connected thereto along a fold line perpendicular to the top edge of said blank;

a second lateral panel hingedly connected to said first lateral panel along a fold line parallel to said first fold line and having a first slot formed therein partially therethrough opening to the outside edge thereof and oriented on a line extending from said fold line connecting said center support panels and said first rib panel;

a third lateral panel hingedly connected along a third hinge line to a second of said center support panels 8 and opposite said first slot, said third hinge line being parallel to said first hinge line; and

a fourth lateral panel hingedly connected to said third panel along a fourth hinge line parallel to said third hinge line, said fourth panel having a first slot formed partially therethrough opening the outside edge thereof and oriented along a line colinear with said first slot in said second panel.

2. The blank of claim 1, including a second center rib panel hingedly connected along a fold line to the bottom edge of said center support panels and foldable as a second rib panel parallel to said first rib panel, said second rib panel having formed partially therethrough a slot coaxial with said slot separating said center support panels, and

second-slots formed in each of said second and fourth lateral panels coaxial with an extension of said fold line connecting said second center rib panel to said bottom edge of said center support panels, said second slots in said second and fourth lateral panels opening to the outside lateral edge of said second and fourth lateral panels.

3. The blank of claim 1, including a rib stiffening panel hingedly connected to the top edge of said rib panel and having a slot formed partially therethrough opening to the top edge of said rib stiffening panel and coaxial with an extension of said slot separating said center section support panels.

4. A one piece container partition made from foldable paperboard or similar sheet-like material, said partition comprising:

a vertically oriented center rib panel, said center rib panel having a slot formed partially therethrough and opening on to the bottom edge thereof;

said center rib panel having hingedly attached on the bottom edge thereof on each side of said slot a horizontal center support panel;

each of said center support panels having hingedly attached to the outside edge thereof a first lateral panel folded beneath said center support panel to form a double thickness on one side of said rib panel and extending beyond said rib panel to give said partition length beyond said rib panel;

said lateral panel extending in width up to said slot in said center rib panel;

each of said lateral panels having hingedly attached to the edge thereof juxtaposed with said slot a second lateral panel folded vertically and having a slot formed therein to create a lateral rib of double thickness perpendicular to center rib panel and creating said partition.

5. A multiple celled container partition made from foldable paperboard or similar sheet-like material, said partition comprising:

a horizontal center support panel having at least one slot formed transversely therethrough;

a pair of rib panels hingedly connected to said center support panel along the top and bottom sides thereof and oriented vertically;

first lateral support panels hingedly connected to said center support panel and located at either lateral side of said center support panel and folded downwardly to form a double thickness bottom underneath said center support panel, said first lateral panels extending inwardly to the nearest of said slots formed in said center support panels; and

second lateral panels hingedly connected to said each of said first lateral support panels, each of said sec- 3 ,92 1 ,89 1 9 10 nd lateral panels having slots formed therein posi- Hess transverse rib pane] perpendicular to Said rib tioned to accommodate said rib panels, said second support panels folded upwardly to lie in vertical side-by-side relationship and forma double thickpanels. 

1. A blank made from foldable paperboard or similar sheet-like material and adapted to be erected into a one-piece multi-cell container partition, said blank comprising: a subsTantially rectangular sheet of said material; said sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposed lateral sides; a center section adapted to be folded to form the base of said partition in final erected form; at least two center section support panels, said center section support panels separated by a first slot extending perpendicular to said top edge; a first center rib panel hingedly connected along a fold line to the top edge of said center support panels and foldable normally to said center support panels into position to become the first center rib of said partition said first rib panel having formed therein a slot partially therethrough coaxial with and extending from said first slot separating said center support panels; a first lateral panel located at the side of a first of said center section support panels opposite said first slot and hingedly connected thereto along a fold line perpendicular to the top edge of said blank; a second lateral panel hingedly connected to said first lateral panel along a fold line parallel to said first fold line and having a first slot formed therein partially therethrough opening to the outside edge thereof and oriented on a line extending from said fold line connecting said center support panels and said first rib panel; a third lateral panel hingedly connected along a third hinge line to a second of said center support panels and opposite said first slot, said third hinge line being parallel to said first hinge line; and a fourth lateral panel hingedly connected to said third panel along a fourth hinge line parallel to said third hinge line, said fourth panel having a first slot formed partially therethrough opening the outside edge thereof and oriented along a line colinear with said first slot in said second panel.
 2. The blank of claim 1, including a second center rib panel hingedly connected along a fold line to the bottom edge of said center support panels and foldable as a second rib panel parallel to said first rib panel, said second rib panel having formed partially therethrough a slot coaxial with said slot separating said center support panels, and second slots formed in each of said second and fourth lateral panels coaxial with an extension of said fold line connecting said second center rib panel to said bottom edge of said center support panels, said second slots in said second and fourth lateral panels opening to the outside lateral edge of said second and fourth lateral panels.
 3. The blank of claim 1, including a rib stiffening panel hingedly connected to the top edge of said rib panel and having a slot formed partially therethrough opening to the top edge of said rib stiffening panel and coaxial with an extension of said slot separating said center section support panels.
 4. A one piece container partition made from foldable paperboard or similar sheet-like material, said partition comprising: a vertically oriented center rib panel, said center rib panel having a slot formed partially therethrough and opening on to the bottom edge thereof; said center rib panel having hingedly attached on the bottom edge thereof on each side of said slot a horizontal center support panel; each of said center support panels having hingedly attached to the outside edge thereof a first lateral panel folded beneath said center support panel to form a double thickness on one side of said rib panel and extending beyond said rib panel to give said partition length beyond said rib panel; said lateral panel extending in width up to said slot in said center rib panel; each of said lateral panels having hingedly attached to the edge thereof juxtaposed with said slot a second lateral panel folded vertically and having a slot formed therein to create a lateral rib of double thickness perpendicular to center rib panel and creating said partition.
 5. A multiple celled container partition made from foldable paperboard or similar sheet-like material, said partition comPrising: a horizontal center support panel having at least one slot formed transversely therethrough; a pair of rib panels hingedly connected to said center support panel along the top and bottom sides thereof and oriented vertically; first lateral support panels hingedly connected to said center support panel and located at either lateral side of said center support panel and folded downwardly to form a double thickness bottom underneath said center support panel, said first lateral panels extending inwardly to the nearest of said slots formed in said center support panels; and second lateral panels hingedly connected to said each of said first lateral support panels, each of said second lateral panels having slots formed therein positioned to accommodate said rib panels, said second support panels folded upwardly to lie in vertical side-by-side relationship and form a double thickness transverse rib panel perpendicular to said rib panels. 